PLACES YOU MUST SEE IN BARCELONA: The Old Town, El Born (Part II)
“The old town” in Barcelona consists of four basic areas:
El Born, famous for it’s chic restaurants, bars and it’s church the Santa Maria del Mar.
El Raval, located to the left of the Rambla, famous for it’s bohemian and ethnic peculiarities.
El Barri Gotic, famous for its small and sometimes dark streets full of specialty boutiques, bars and restaurants.
And the Barceloneta, famous for the seafood restaurants, private ships and yachts, it’s famous beach and boardwalk.
The old town is named thus because it marks the original city of Barcelona (Medieval around 1250-1350 C.E.) which in the past was safely tucked behind the emblematic and now long gone Spanish walls.
El Born__________________________________________________________________________
One of my personal favorite places in Barcelona, here you will find that the Born area is fun both in the daytime and at night.
Santa Maria del Mar
Plaza Santa Maria, 1.
Santa Maria del Mar, a gothic and Catalán jewel, said to be built between 1329 and 1383 is one of the most beautiful churches in the city. This church hidden in the Born area looks almost unimpressive from the outside with its dark brick walls and lack of decoration but from the inside, it is like stepping into a magnificent gothic seashell. The walls are elongated and tall. Columns stretch high into elegant curves which tie into small circular paintings on the ceiling. The coolness from the hot Barcelona sun is felt almost instantly once you enter and you cannot help but feel the sense that this is a place that you should respect and be silent in.
Paseo del Born
Remember how I mentioned the various bars and restaurants in the Born area? Right on the Paseo del Born you will encounter an enchanting corner of the city full of tapas bars, cava bars, and sit down restaurants lining up and around the Santa Maria del Mar. There is no place more tranquil or beautiful than this little part of the city although with tourist season it may get a little bit crowded. It is also the home of one or two street performers. The last time I was in the Born, we heard the music stylings of an older lady singing a brilliant rendition of Ave María. Those moments you can’t buy, you know, they just happen.
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Tags: After dinner drinks in Barcelona, Barcelona tourist Information, Born area, chic restaurants Barcelona, El Born, For couples Barcelona, Paseo del born, Romantic spot Barcelona, Santa María del Mar, Tapas Barcelona, The old town Barcelona
August 24th, 2010 at 8:06 pm
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August 25th, 2010 at 9:48 am
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